Goa, 14 November 2026
I Matter (Eu Contez), a multilingual drama written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Alina Șerban, will have its Indian Premiere as the Mid-Fest film at the 57th International Film Festival of India (IFFI). A co-production of Romania, Germany and Belgium, the 101-minute film explores identity, family, belonging and the pursuit of a future beyond the circumstances of one's past. Featuring dialogues in Romanian and Romani, the film brings a distinctive European cinematic perspective to the festival.
The film follows Rebeca, a young Roma woman preparing to leave the orphanage she has called home. With her father's impending release from prison, she hopes to find the family she has always longed for and begin a new chapter in her life. Her admission to university to study acting brings fresh hope and the possibility of shaping her own future. However, as she navigates an unfamiliar world, unresolved experiences from her past resurface, confronting her with difficult choices.
Through Rebeca's journey, I Matter explores the emotional challenges of growing up without a stable family environment, the search for acceptance and the determination to find one's place in society. Set against the experiences of a young Roma woman, the film also engages with questions of social inclusion, dignity and individual freedom.
The film marks the feature-directorial debut of Alina Șerban, an accomplished actress and playwright. A graduate of the National University of Theatre and Film in Bucharest, she has also trained at the Tisch School of the Arts, New York University, and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London. Her earlier works include Alone at My Wedding, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, and Gipsy Queen, for which she received several Best Actress honours. She also appeared in Housekeeping for Beginners, screened at the Venice Film Festival.
I Matter premiered in the Venice Spotlight section of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival in September 2026, where it received the prestigious Armani Beauty Audience Award. The film stars Denisa Farcaș as Rebeca, alongside Sorin Mihai, Angelina Pavel, Vanessa Dancea, Raisa Mihai, Alexandru Stancu, Alina Berzunțeanu and Natalia Călin.
As the Mid-Fest presentation at IFFI 2026, I Matter will be screened simultaneously at 4:30 PM on November 24, 2026, at PVR INOX Panjim (Audi 1) and PVR INOX Porvorim (Audi 1). Director Alina Șerban and lead actress Denisa Farcaș will attend the festival as special guests. A red-carpet event featuring the film's guests is also scheduled at PVR INOX Panjim on the day of the screening.
Scheduled from November 20 to 28 across multiple venues in Goa, the 57th International Film Festival of India will showcase over 150 international films from 86 countries. The festival will bring together films across genres, countries and languages through its competitive and non-competitive sections, curated packages, retrospectives, tributes and thematic showcases, providing a platform for cross-cultural exchange and cinematic excellence.
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PIB IFFI Team | Rajith Chandran/Lakshmi Priya/Bibin S Nath/Darshana Rane